Torres could start new season

14 July 2010 06:01

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Liverpool striker Fernando Torres could be fit for the start of the Barclays Premier League season, the club have revealed.

Scans have indicated the Spain international suffered only a small adductor tear playing for his country in Sunday's World Cup final and Liverpool are now hopeful the 26-year-old could be back in action in around three weeks, in time for their opening league fixture against Arsenal on August 15.

The club's head of sports science and medicine Peter Brukner told the club's website, www.liverpoolfc.tv: "The initial assessment was he had a mild adductor tear and the Spanish medial staff didn't consider it to be too serious at the time."

Brukner added: "He had an MRI scan (on Tuesday) which confirmed a small tear. He should be able to resume training within two to three weeks and be able to play again within three to four weeks."

Torres suffered the injury late in extra-time of Spain's glorious triumph against Holland in Johannesburg, soon after coming on as a substitute.

His obvious discomfort as he slumped to the ground sparked fears he could be facing another lengthy lay-off after a season plagued by injuries.

However, the latest prognosis suggests Torres could now be back in training soon after his summer break officially ends.

Along with other players involved in the World Cup, the former Atletico Madrid forward has been given leave to return to pre-season training later than the rest of the squad.

Torres was booked in for the scan by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after returning to Madrid with the rest of his national squad, while Liverpool medical staff flew out to Spain to meet him and assess the injury themselves.

Torres will definitely miss Liverpool's two-legged Europa League qualifier on July 29 and August 5 but news the injury is not as bad as feared is a boost for new manager Roy Hodgson.